Cutting device and support for same

Abstract

A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine having a frame includes a boom and a cutting device supported on the boom. The boom includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion supported for pivotable movement relative to the frame. In some embodiments, the first portion includes a first structure extending along a longitudinal base axis and a second structure moveable relative to the first portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal base axis, and at least one bearing supports the second portion for movement relative to the first portion. In some embodiments, the second portion is pivotably coupled to the first portion by a universal joint, and a suspension system including a plurality of biasing members may be coupled between the first portion and the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine including a frame, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a boom including a first structure, a second structure, and a wrist portion, the first structure configured to be supported by the frame and extending along a longitudinal base axis, the second structure coupled to the first structure and pivotable relative to the first structure, the wrist portion pivotably coupled to the second structure by a universal joint; 
 at least one biasing member coupled between the second structure and the wrist portion, the at least one biasing member biasing the wrist portion relative to the first structure; and 
 a cutting device supported by the wrist portion of the boom. 
 
     
     
       2. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the universal joint includes a first shaft coupled to the second structure and extending along a first joint axis, the universal joint further including a second shaft coupled to the wrist portion and extending along a second joint axis, the second shaft pivotably coupled to the first shaft to permit pivoting movement of the wrist portion relative to the second structure about the first joint axis and about the second joint axis. 
     
     
       3. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator configured to pivot the first structure relative to the frame and a second actuator extending between the first structure and the second structure and configured to pivot the second structure relative to first structure. 
     
     
       4. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc having a cutting edge positioned in a cutting plane, the cutting plane oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wrist portion of the boom, a base surface of the cutting disc abutting a surface of a carrier along a plane forming an acute angle relative to the cutting plane. 
     
     
       5. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc and an excitation device, the excitation device including an eccentric mass supported for rotation in an eccentric manner and positioned proximate the cutting disc, wherein rotation of the eccentric mass induces oscillation of the cutting device. 
     
     
       6. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a slew coupling coupled between the first structure and the frame, the slew coupling configured to move the boom about a slew axis. 
     
     
       7. The cutting assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first structure is pivotably coupled to the slew coupling about a first axis that is transverse to the slew axis. 
     
     
       8. The cutting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second structure is pivotably coupled to the first structure about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
       9. The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the wrist portion includes a first end coupled to the second structure, a second end coupled to the cutter device, and a wrist axis extending between the first end and the second end, the at least one biasing member being oriented parallel to the wrist axis. 
     
     
       10. A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine including a frame, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a boom including a slew coupling, a first structure, a second structure, and a wrist portion, the slew coupling configured to move the boom about a slew axis, the first structure coupled to the frame by the slew coupling and extending along a longitudinal base axis, the first structure pivotable relative to the slew coupling about a first axis, the second structure supported for pivotable movement relative to the first structure about a second axis, the wrist portion pivotably coupled to the second structure by a universal joint; 
 at least one biasing member coupled between one of the first structure and the second structure and the wrist portion, the at least one biasing member biasing the wrist portion relative to the first structure; and 
 a cutting device supported by the wrist portion of the boom. 
 
     
     
       11. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the universal joint includes a first shaft coupled to the second structure and extending along a first joint axis, the universal joint further including a second shaft coupled to the wrist portion and extending along a second joint axis, the second shaft pivotably coupled to the first shaft to permit pivoting movement of the wrist portion relative to the second structure about the first joint axis and about the second joint axis. 
     
     
       12. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc having a cutting edge positioned in a cutting plane, the cutting plane oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wrist portion of the boom, a base surface of the cutting disc abutting a surface of a carrier along a plane forming an acute angle relative to the cutting plane. 
     
     
       13. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc and an excitation device, the excitation device including an eccentric mass supported for rotation in an eccentric manner and positioned proximate the cutting disc, wherein rotation of the eccentric mass induces oscillation of the cutting device. 
     
     
       14. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first axis is transverse to the slew axis. 
     
     
       15. The cutting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second axis that is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
       16. The cutting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second axis is transverse to the slew axis. 
     
     
       17. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a first actuator extending from the slew coupling to the first structure and configured to pivot the first structure relative to the slew coupling about the first axis and a second actuator extending between the first structure and the second structure and configured to pivot the second structure relative to first structure about the second axis. 
     
     
       18. The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein first structure pivots independently of the second structure. 
     
     
       19. A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine, the rock excavation machine including a frame, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a boom including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion supported for pivotable movement relative to the frame, the first portion including a first structure extending along a longitudinal base axis and a second structure moveable relative to the first structure, the second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion by a universal joint; 
 a suspension system including a plurality of biasing members coupled between the first portion and the second portion and biasing the second portion relative to the first portion, the biasing members being oriented parallel to one another; and 
 a cutting device supported by the second portion of the boom. 
 
     
     
       20. The cutting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc and an excitation device, the excitation device including an eccentric mass supported for rotation in an eccentric manner and positioned proximate the cutting disc, wherein rotation of the eccentric mass induces oscillation of the cutting device. 
     
     
       21. The cutting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the universal joint includes a first shaft coupled to the first portion and extending along a first joint axis, the universal joint further including a second shaft coupled to the second portion and extending along a second joint axis, the second shaft pivotably coupled to the first shaft to permit pivoting movement of the second portion relative to the first portion about the first joint axis and about the second joint axis. 
     
     
       22. The cutting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cutting device includes a cutting disc having a cutting edge positioned in a cutting plane, the cutting plane oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second portion of the boom. 
     
     
       23. The cutting assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second portion includes a first end coupled to the first portion by the universal joint, a second end supporting the cutter device, and a wrist axis extending between the first end and the second end, the at least one biasing member being oriented substantially parallel to the wrist axis.